The State of Maryland needs to pass a law that places a cap on how much monthly rent can be raised at the end of a lease and a law that requires landlords to give the notice of rent increase sooner than the same time period during which the tenant must give a notice of intent to vacate. Landlord issues pertain to state legislation, which can be introduced for 2014 if this petition is successful. If there must be a monthly rent increase, it should not exceed 2%, which is still a considerable increase but a reasonable compromise. I have seen Maryland residents receive monthly rent increases of $35, $70, and even higher when they renew their leases. Nobody's rent should increase that much every single year. It is difficult for most people to pick up and move on short notice, and there is no guarantee that another rental community will not raise their rent in similar fashion. Excessive monthly rent increases are also a form of gentrification. They effectively push lower income people (disproportionately Blacks and other minorities) out of decent neighborhoods and into run-down, crime-infested ones. No tenant should be exploited by landlords, management companies, or apartment complexes. The State of Maryland and its counties need to help the people who need it most, instead of catering to greedy landlords and management companies who hide behind the bogus "market trend" excuse and raise rent in exorbitant fashion just because, legally, there is nothing to stop them.